Sep 14th 2012, 3:22:25
Voir Dire is a process by which the jury is selected, and it literally means "to tell the truth." And I told the truth.
At the end of Voir Dire, we were given a list of about 15 questions for which we were supposed to see the judge if we answered yes to any of them (which about 2/3rds of the people did). Here are my answers (delivered concisely and precisely as I had been given hours to prepare my answers while other people ahead of me gave their answers): (keep in mind, I had taken an oath to tell the truth, and that even without oaths, I am an honest person).
Yes, I have used Marijuana. I used it about 10 times or so during college, and it has been over 5 years since I have used Marijuana.
Yes, I do have an opinion on the laws regarding possession and distribution of Marijuana, I believe that they should all be repealed.
Yes, I am a member of a group that advocates a change in marijuana policy: I am a member of the Libertarian Party and part of their platform is the legalization of Marijuana.
Yes, I have a strong opinion on some of the law enforcement agencies involved: I believe that the DEA should be disbanded.
Yes, I have a strong opinion on many federal criminal laws: I believe many of them to be unconstitutional. I do not yet have an opinion on the laws that these defendants are being charged under and I will make an unbiased judgment on their constitutionality. I have no reservations about enforcing a constitutional law that I find distasteful; those need to be repealed by the legislature rather than nullified by a jury. Even if by rendering a guilty verdict I am perpetrating an injustice, I will render a guilty verdict if not doing so would violate my oaths as a juror.
Yes, I have strong opinions on the federal justice system. Both due to the anarchist writings that influence my political views, and because I am a devout Christian, I recognize that our justice system is a system which is severely flawed and has committed many injustices. But as a devout Christian, I take my oath as a juror seriously, just as I take my oath to be honest during voir dire selection seriously. I will do as the law requires me to do.
That judge probably didn't realize that I was possibly the most honest person ever in his courtroom. And because he was too much of a bigot to consider the possibility that I was being honest, he decided I was unfit to be a judge. Or because he needed mindless sheep to populate his jury, rather than someone with critical thinking skills.